So, I didn’t really think about shabbos until Wednesday, when Dasi pointed out that she already had plans, and I panicked.
I called Becky, who left early from Lindenbaum our year in Israel, so I hadn’t seen her in years and thought it would be a lot of fun to catch up! After reassuring her that I was not a picky eater or a vegetarian, she gave me some basic public trans directions. (Take the Northern line to the last stop – Edgeware – and text her.)
I showed up an hour or so before shabbos, and I bumped into another friend getting off the tube, and I told her to ask if she could come to Becky’s on shabbos! (We ended up getting a bunch of people and having a blast on shabbos afternoon.) I brought M&Ms from America, because they aren’t kosher here, and they were EXTREMELY well received. 😀
Friday night was wonderful, Becky’s family was a lot of fun, and the food was absolutely delicious. I was running a slight cold, and I felt terrible because I kept running out of the room to blow my nose, but everyone was really nice about it. (No one admonished me for bringing disease into the house, which I felt TERRIBLE about, but I didn’t have the cold until after I had confirmed shabbos plans!) Becky and I stayed up chatting until the lights turned out on us, which was hilarious. It was pitch-black, but I found my way the four feet back to my room. Becky is majoring in English, and her classes are really fascinating, so we just lost track of time!
On shabbos day, we made it to shul and it was a nice young adult minyan, and we quickly checked out the main sanctuary before walking back for lunch. It was huge, and it had a balcony for the choir, which I thought was pretty cool.
Lunch was wonderful again, and then a whole bunch of people came over. The only ones I knew from before were Rebbecca and Tomasina, who had worked on a kibbutz with me two summers ago. We hung out until shabbos was nearly over, and afterward we spent a while checking film times and other things in the neighborhood, before going out to see the film Never Let Me Go, with Rebbecca and Tomasina and another girl. I spent the whole car ride trying to convince myself that we weren’t going to DIE FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC, being on the wrong side of the road and all.
The movie was heart-wrenching, and by the end four of us were sobbing. It was an all British case, which was fun despite the story! (Mom, if you’re reading this, don’t see it. Sarah…you probably won’t like it either, honestly. Leora, you definitely won’t like it. Ok, stopping now.)
I caught the LAST TRAIN back. And by last train, I mean last train that goes my way, because the Northern line spits twice. So I caught the last train from Edgeware going via Bank (it passes King’s Cross, my stop.) I am seriously unimpressed with this train system because it doesn’t run 24 hours. Having times for approaching trains posted at every platform? Having digital read-outs in all trains announcing the next stop? Making it very clear very quickly whenever there are delays? Pfffffft. The trains stop running at midnight!
Anyway, I got back in one piece and texted Becky to tell her I was back and I think I crashed around one. Pretty good, right? 🙂
